How to Eat Healthy at McDonald’s

Next up in our series of “How to Eat Healthy” at fast food restaurants is (almost) everyone’s guilty pleasure: McDonald’s! With restaurants in every city and their low, low costs, the fast food chain is near impossible to avoid. If you’re going to eat at McDonald’s, these are your healthiest options:

Breakfast

Believe it or not, there are lots of low-calorie breakfast items on the menu at McDonald’s. First up is the Egg McMuffin which is 290 calories with 11g of fat and 16g of protein, followed by the Breakfast Burrito which is also 290 calories with 16g of fat and 11g of protein. If it’s meat you’re craving, try the Bacon n’ Egg McMuffin which is 310 calories and has 14g of fat and 16g of protein.

Other low calorie options include the Fruit and Maple Oatmeal (290 calories, 2.5g of fat, 5g of protein) and the Fruit and Yogurt Parfait (200 calories, 2g of fat, 6g of protein).

Definitely Try to Avoid: The Sausage and Hashbrown More-ning wrap which is 710 calories and has 42g of fat and 1400mg of sodium, the Hotcakes which are 600 calories with 16g of fat, and the Bacon n’ Egg Multigrain Bagel which is 620 calories with 27g of fat.

Lunch & Dinner

Salads are an obvious choice for the healthiest lunch or dinner options at McDonald’s. The Greek Salad with Grilled Chicken is 280 calories with 12g of fat and 27g of protein while the Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken is 360 calories with 17g of fat and 31g of protein.

But who goes to McDonald’s for salads, right? When it comes to burgers, the smaller the healthier. The cheeseburger and hamburger are both under-300 calorie options. The next healthiest option is the Double Cheeseburger and Quarter Pounder (without cheese) at 420 calories each. If you’re a seafood lover, the Filet-o-Fish is 400 calories or if it’s chicken you’re after, the Bacon Ranch Junior Chicken is 350 calories and the Junior Chicken is 380 calories.

For an even healthier choice, opt for a one of the snack wraps which are all between 230 and 290 calories each or 6-piece Chicken McNuggets (without sauce) which is just 280 calories.

As for sides, try to avoid adding fries to your meal (a medium has 350 calories) but if you must, grab a mini fry (120 calories) or opt for apple slices (40 calories), a side garden salad (40 calories) or a side caesar salad (150 calories).

Definitely Try to Avoid: Any of the speciality burgers like the Mighty Angus and Angus Classic Bacon and Cheese which are both just under 800 calories each, the double Big Mac (680 calories, 38g of fat, 1340mg of sodium) and the double Quarter Pounder with Cheese (740 calories, 43g of fat, 1270mg of sodium).